Conduit cleaning apparatus



June 24, 1969 CARLSON ET AL 3,451,089

CONDUIT CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1967 Sheet 1 of 2 June 24, 1969 B CARLSQN ET AL 3,451,089

CONDUIT CLEANING APPARATUS .Filed Nov. 6, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 United States Patent 3,451,089 CONDUIT CLEANING APPARATUS Arthur B. Carlson and Donald J. Kettleborough, Mendota, and Lucian L. Schreiber, Peru, Ill., assignors to Conco Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,758 Int. Cl. B08b 9/02; B65h 51/26, 23/16 US. Cl. 15-104.3 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conduit cleaning apparatus of the cable type including a tool adapted to be rotatably and longitudinally moved through a drain tile or the like, for cleaning the same, a supply of cable connected to the tool and contained within a drum, a drive means for rotating the drum and thus the cable, means for feeding the cable includinga pair of rollers engaging the periphery of the cable and having their axes of rotation disposable at angles to the longitudinal axis of the cable and means for adjusting the axis of rotation of the rollers to thereby adjust and change the direction and/or the rate of feed of the cable and to provide a positive neutral position.

Background of the invention The blocking of drain pipes, or tiles, in sewer systems by obstructions, such as roots or the like, has long been a perplexing problem to home owners. In order to clear the obstructions in the drain pipes, or tiles, a plumber or professional sewer cleaner is generally required and he will use an apparatus for cutting or otherwise clearing the obstructions from the drain pipes. I

Typically, the apparatus used includes a tool which may be on the order of a helical spring and which may additionally include blades for cutting roots, or the like. The tool is, in turn, connected to a flexible cable which is fed into the pipe to be cleaned and fed therethrough to move the tool up to the obstruction to clear the same. Rotation is imparted to the cable to rotate the tool and the cable is also fed along its longitudinal axis within the pipe to feed the tool through the pipe.

To impart rotation to the cable, motor means are conventionally associated therewith. In the past, various means have been provided for feeding the rotating cable along its longitudinal axis to advance the work performing member. Typical of such means are the so-called splitnut device and the gear box feed mechanism which are well known in the art. The split-nut" device takes advantage of the rotation imparted to the cable by the motor means for advancing the cable along its longitudinal axis.

There is also an apparatus which may be termed a rotatable split-nut device and typically utilizes a pair of helically grooved rotatable rollers which engage the surface of the cable. Because the cable is typically formed of a tightly coiled wire spring, the convolutions thereof ride within the grooves of the rotating helical rollers and the cable is fed thereby.

The rotatable split-nut devices, like the split-nut constructions have the disadvantage that speed is dependent on cable pitch; a reversible motor must be used to control the direction of cable movement and the rate at which the cable is fed through the pipe can not be changed except by changing the speed of the motor.

Previous to our invention, a construction has been devised wherein feed of the cable can occur by mechanism powered from cable rotation without being dependent on cable pitch, however, reversal of a drive motor for the cable is still required.

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Summary of the invention It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for cleaning conduits, such as sewer pipe or the like.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a conduit cleaning apparatus wherein the direction of feed and the rate of feed of a tool mounting a rotatable cable within a sewer pipe to be cleaned may be controlled independently of a motor means for rotating the cable.

Still another object is the provision of an apparatus of the sewer cleaning type wherein a cleaning tool may be advanced within a sewer pipe at a significantly greater rate of speed than is attainable with currently known devices.

A still further object is the provision of an apparatus of the sewer cleaning type including a work performing member movable through a pipe, an elongated cable connected to the work performing member and feedable' through the pipe, a motor means for rotating the cable, and at least one roller engaging the periphery of the cable and having its axis of rotation arrangeable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cable, the position of the axis of rotation of the roller being variable to vary the direction of feed of the tool within the pipe and the rate of feed therewithin and also to provide a positive neutral position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a conduit cleaning apparatus including a pipe cleaning tool, an elongated flexible cable mounting the tool, a motor for rotating the cable, and means engaging the cable and responsive to rotation thereof by the motor for selectively feeding the cable along its longitudinal axis at any one of a plurality of selected rates in either of two directions.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus such as that set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the engaging and feeding means comprise a plurality of rollers engaging the cable at spaced locations about its periphery, a plurality of mounting means, one for each roller, each rotatably mounting a respective one of the rollers, means supporting each mounting means for rotation whereby the axis of rotation of each roller may be shifted, and means interconnecting each of the mounting means for simultaneous rotation whereby the axes of rotation of the rollers may be shifted simultaneously equally and in opposite directions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conduit cleaning apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the cable advancing means used in conjunction with the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the advancing means with parts shown in section for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; 1 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positive neutral no-feed condition;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a feed-in condition; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a feed-out condition.

Description of the preferred embodiment .An exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is seen to comprise a base generally designated 10 which pivotally mounts at '12 a yoke -14. Rotatably mounted in turn on the yoke 14 is a cable drum 16 of known type which contains a supply of an elongated cable '18 which may be typically in the form of a tightly coiled spring several feet in length. One end of the cable 18 is connected to a cleaning tool 20 of known construction.

Motor means, generally designated 22, are arranged to rotate the drum 16 and thereby rotate cable 18 and the tool 20. The foregoing construction is typical of many different constructions that can use the novel structure described hereinafter.

.Novel feeding means, generally designated 24, are provided to utilize the rotation imparted to the drum 16 and cable 18 by the motor means 22 to advance or retract the cable 18 and thus the work performing member 20 through a pipe to be cleaned.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the feeding means 24 are secured to the bight of the yoke 14 by means of lugs 26 thereon, a flange 28 and bolts 30. The feeding means 24 comprises a circular tube-like member 32 having end caps 34. The end caps 34 are secured to the tube 32 by any suitable fastening means. The feeding means 24 can be used to retrofit equipment already in the field.

Within the confines of the tube 32 is a first roller mounting member 36 which includes a cylindrical portion 38 having a groove 40 in its periphery. The first roller mounting member 36 additionally includes, at its inner end, a bifurcated mount 40 that mounts a roller 42 for rotation about a pivot pin 44. The roller 42 may be formed of any suitable material that wears well and need not have a relatively high coefficient of friction.

A second cylindrical roller mounting member, generally designated 46, is also mounted within the tube 32 and includes a cylindrical portion 48 having a rather wide groove 50 in its periphery. Like the first roller mounting member 36, the second roller mounting member 46 also includes a bifurcated mount 52 at its inner end for a roller 54 to mount the same for rotation about a pivot pin 56. As seen in FIG. 3, the arrangement is such that the surfaces of the rollers 42 and 54 are relatively adjacent and are adapted to receive the cable 18 therebetween.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper surface of the tube 32 includes a cut-out slot 58 through which an arm 60 extends. The arm 60 has its lower end threaded to the cylindrical portion 48 of the second roller mounting member 46 while its upper end mounts a knob or handle 62 for manipulation by an operator.

The right end cap 34 includes a threaded opening 64 in which a thumbscrew 66 is received. The thumbscrew 66 includes a washer 68 secured thereto adjacent its in- I ner end and a spring 70 is interposed between the washer 68 and an inner surface (not shown) of the second roller mounting member 46. The spring 70 is typical of a structure to yieldably bias the second roller mounting member inwardly and, thus, the roller 54 is biased towards the cable 18. As a result, when cable movement is not resisted by an obstruction, the spring 70 serves to insure that the roller 54 will be tightly held against the cable 18 to insure positive feeding of the cable 18. On the other hand, should movement of the cable 18 suddenly be resisted by the encountering of an obstacle within the pipe which precludes the cable '18 from being fed at the rate dictated by the angular relation of the axis of rotation of the rollers as will be seen, the roller 54 may yield against the bias to preclude excessive forces from being exerted within the tool 20, the cable 18 and the feeding means 24.

By suitable manipulation of the thumbscrew 66, the degree of bias can be adjusted appropriately. Furthermore, manipulation of the thumbscrew also allows movement of the second roller mounting member 66 and the roller 54 toward or away from the roller 42 so that cables having different diameters may be accommodated and permits easy'placement of the cable 18 in the nip of the rollers 42 and 54, as will be seen.

A handle member 72 formed of an acruate tube is mounted on the top of the tube 32. Four elongated apertures 74 are provided in the handle member and a section of a continuous loop cable 76 passes therethrough into the confines of the tube 72. Adjacent the points where the cable 76 emerges from the apertures 74 in the tube-like handle member 72, apertured bosses 78 are provided in the tube 32 and the bosses 78 are additionally aligned with the groove 40 on the first roller mounting member 36 and the grooves 50 of the second roller mounting member 46. The cable 76 passes through the apertured bosses 78 and passes about the first and second roller mounting members 36 and 46 within the grooves 40 and 50, respectively.

As best seen in PG. 4, a securing means in the form of an eyelet 80 is mounted in the groove 50 of the second roller mounting means 46 and receives the cable 76 to connect the same to the second roller mounting means 46 for movement therewith.

As a result of the just-described construction, it will be appreciated that rotation of the handle 62 by an operator will cause rotation of the second roller mounting means 46 which will cause an equal and opposite rotation of the first roller mounting means 36 by virtue of the interconnection by the cable 76. Such rotation of the roller mounting member results in a shifting of the angular relationship between the pivotal axes of the rollers 42 and 54 and the longitudinal axis of the cable 18.

The tube 32 additionally includes a double bayonet slot 82 having a generally horizontal portion 84 located approximately between the rollers 42 and 54. Thus when the thumbscrew 66 is backed-off a sufficient distance, the cable 18 may be moved upwardly through the bayonet slot 82 to the horizontal portion 84 to be disposed between the rollers 42 and 54. At this point, the thumbscrew 66 may be advanced, whereby the cable 18 will be tightly held between the rollers 42 and 54.

Since, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention, only two rollers are provided, it will be appreciated that additional means must be provided to insure that the cable 18 will be held in the nip between the rollers 42 and 54. To this end, a pair of generally vertical guide means 86 are arranged to confront the nip between the rollers 42 and 54 and support the cable 18 in the desired location, The guide means 86 are secured to the tube 32 by bolts 88. Of course, if only a single feeding roller were to be used, the orientation of the guide means would be changed or additional guide means provided. On the other hand, if more than two rollers are used, the guide means 86 could be omitted entirely and the invention is intended to encompass such modifications.

Adjustment of the angular relation between the axes of rotation of the rollers 42 and 54 and the longitudinal axis of the cable 18 by manipulation of the handle 62 provides both control of the rate of feed of the cable 18 and control of the direction of feed of the cable 18. As seen in FIG. 5, when the axes of rotation, designated 90 and 92, of the rollers 42 and 54 are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the cable 18, the cable 18 will merely rotate under the influence of the motor means 22 and will not be fed. This provides a positive neutral position where the cable and tool can work on an obstruction without feed of the cable. However, when, as seen in FIG. 6, the axis of rotation 90 of the roller 42 is rotated in a clockwise direction while the axis of rotation 92 of the roller 54 is rotated counterclockwise, the impartation of rotation to the cable 18 by the motor means 22 will act upon the rollers 42 and 54 and the reacton will cause the cable 18 to be fed out to retract the tool 20 from the pipe. The rate at which the cable 18 is fed out may be varied by adjusting the angle through which the axes 90 and 92 are rotated.

On the other hand, when it is desirable to feed in the cable to advance it more deeply within the pipe, the axis of rotation 90 of the roller 42 is rotated counterclockwise while the axis of rotation 92 of the roller 54 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Again, the reaction between the rollers 42 and 54 caused by rotation of the cable 18 by the motor means 22 will cause the cable 18 to be advanced longitudinally.

,As a result of the just-described construction, it will be apparent that no special or expensive motors need be provided as the motor means 22, Rather, a constant speed unidirectional motor can be used with feed direction control of the cable 18 being provided by the orientation of the rollers 42 and 54. Additionally, as pointed out above, feed rate control is provided by varying the orientation of. the rollers 42 and 54 so that an operator may play out the cable 18 at an extremely rapid rate through clear sections of the pipe and may slow down the rate of feed when an obstruction is encountered, simply by manipulation of the handle 62.

The advantages of the just-described construction will become particularly evident from the following Table which serves as a comparison between the conventional, split-nut type of construction, the rotatable split-nut device, and a device made according to the teachings of the instant invention.

The table provides four difl'erent situations, with the variables being the revolutions per minute of the cable and the diameter of the wire used in manufacture of the cable.

TYPICAL FEED RATE COMPARISONS Applicants Rotatable construc- Split nut split nut tion Case I.Cable r.p.m.=200, wire dia.=.125:

Max. feed rate (i.p.m.) 2.08 4. 16 2 23. 6 Time to feed 100 it. (minutes) 48 1 24 2 4. 25 Case II.-Cable r.p.m.=300, Wire dia.=.l25:

Max. feed rate (f.p.m.) 3. 125 1 6. 25 2 35. 4 Time to feed 100 it. (minutes). 32 1 16 2 2.8 Case III.Cable r.p.m.=200, wire dla.=.177:

Max. feed rate (t'.p.m.) 2. 783 1 5. 566 3 32. 7 Time to feed 100 it. (minutes) 35. 8 1 17. 90 3 3. 05 Case IV.Cable r.p.m.=300, wire dla.=.177:

Max. feed rate (f.p.m.) 4. 425 1 8. 850 3 46 Time to feed 100 ft. (minutes) 22. 6 1 11.3 3 2.04

1 Pitch diameter oi cable is equal to pitch diameter of feed rollers.

2 Feed rollers canted at 45 to longitudinal axis of cable and %2 cable From the foregoing table, it will be appreciated that it takes one-tenth of the time, or less, to feed a given length of cable with applicants device than would be required with the so-called split-nut type of construction. Additionally, it will be appreciated that applicants device can feed cable at a rate that is five or more times greater than the rate at which a rotatable split-nut construction can feed cable and can feed a smooth coupling connecting sections of cable. And, as pointed out previously, applicants invention provides for speed and direction control without resort to the use of expensive bi-directional multi-speed motors.

With the cable drive mechanism of this invention, the cable always rotates in the same direction in both directions of linear travel, to take advantage of maximum cable strength. The cable can be cutting in both directions of linear travel and, therefore, the uni-directional rotation of the cable enables taking advantage of the cable maximum strength at all times.

The mechanism also permits a positive neutral position in which the cable is not moving linearly while still rotating. Frequently, the cable tool will hit an obstruction and normal operation is to hold the cable taut while the tool works on the obstruction. With the disclosed mechanism, the drive rollers need only be positioned parallel to the cable to accomplish this.

We claim:

1. A conduit cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning tool, an elongated flexible cable having one end connected to said tool for rotating and for advancing the tool within a pipe or the like, motor means operatively connected to said cable -for rotating the same, and means for advancing the cable in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable including at least one rotatable element having a surface engaging the periphery of the cable, said element having its axis of rotation disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said cable in a nonparallel relationship therewith, said surface being a surface of revolution, and means for adjusting the angle between said roller axis of rotation and said longitudinal axis of said cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said element is a. roller and at least two said rollers are provided and are arranged to at least partially surround said cable, and wherein said means for adjusting comprises means for simultaneously changing, in opposite directions, the axis of rotation of both said rollers equal amounts.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for adjusting the distance between the axes of rotation of said rollers.

4. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) A pipe cleaning tool;

(b) an elongated flexible cable having one end mounting said tool;

(c) motor means for rotating said cable; and

(d) means engaging said cable and responsive to rotation thereof by said motor means for selectively advancing said cable along its longitudinal axis at any one of a plurality of selected rates in either of two directions independently of the rate or direction of rotation of said cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said engaging and advancing means comprise a plurality of rollers engaging said cable at spaced locations about the periphery thereof, a plurality of mounting means, one for each roller, each rotatably mounting a respective one of said rollers, means supporting each said mounting means for rotation whereby the axis of rotation of each said roller may be shifted, and means interconnecting each said mounting means for simultaneous rotation whereby the axes of rotation of said rollers may be shifted simultaneously equal amounts in opposite directions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said supporting means comprises a tube and two of each of said rollers and mounting means are provided and are located generally oppositely from each other about the periphery of said cable, said mounting means including a cylindrical portion rotatably received within said tube for rotation therein, and wherein said interconnecting means comprises continuous loop means partially trained about each of said mounting means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein bayonet slot means are provided in said tube to permit said cable to be disposed between said rollers and further including means for adjusting the position of at least one of said mounting means longitudinally within said tube.

8. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a pipe cleaning tool, a drum, a supply of elongated flexible cable contained within said drum and having one end connected to said tool for rotating and for advancing the tool within a pipe or the like, means rotatably mounting said drum, motor means operatively connected to said drum for rotating the drum and thus said cable, and means for feeding the cable into and out of said drum and in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable including at least one roller engaging the periphery of the cable, said roller having its axis of rotation disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said cable in a nonparallel relationship therewith and means for adjusting the angle between said roller axis of rotation and said longitudinal axis of said cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprises a base, a yoke pivotally mounted on said base, said drum being rotatably mounted on said yoke, and said feeding means being mounted on said yoke.

10. In a conduit cleaning apparatus having a rotatable supply drum of cable for rotating the cable and a tool carried thereby, feeding means for linearly moving the cable and tool in response to rotation thereof comprising, a roller engaging said cable, a mounting for said roller permitting bodily movement of the roller relative to the cable to a plurality of positions intermediate extreme positions wherein the roller axis diverges at opposite angles from the cable axis, and means for shifting said roller mounting and holding the roller in adjusted position.

11. Cable feeding means for a conduit cleaning apparatus having a frame, a supply of flexible cable having an end terminating in a conduit cleaning tool and motor means for rotating the cable, said cable feeding means comprising:

(a) a housing,

(b) means for securing said housing to the frame of a conduit cleaning apparatus,

(c) an opening in said housing adapted to receive the cable of a conduit cleaning apparatus and to permit the cable to pass therethrough,

(d) means within said housing defining at least one surface of revolution,

(e) means mounting said surface of revolution defining means for rotation within said housing and further mounting said surface of revolution defining means adjacent said opening so that said surface of revolution will contact the cable of a conduit cleaning apparatus when the same is received Within said opening, and

( f) means for shifting said mounting means whereby the axis of rotation of said surface of revolution defining means may be shifted relative to the longitudinal axis of a cable of a conduit cleaning apparatus when the same is received within said opening.

12. Cable feeding means according to claim 11 wherein said opening comprises a slot opening through said housing in a direction transverse to the length of the cable to be received therein to facilitate insertion of a cable in said housing.

13. Cable feeding means according to claim 11 wherein said surface of revolution defining means comprisesa roller.

14. Cable feeding means according to claim 11 wherein said surface of revolution defining means define a plurality of said surfaces of revolution; and further including a plurality of said mounting means, one for each surface of revolution; said plurality of mounting means being spaced, each from the other about said opening; and said shifting means further being operable to simultaneously shift each of said mounting means. I

15. Cable feeding means according to claim 14 wherein said housing includes a cylindrical interior; and said opening extends transverse to the cylindrical axis thereof and is located intermediate the ends of the housing; there being two of said mounting means, each of said mounting means including a cylindrical portion rotatably received within said housing on opposite sides of said opening; handle means associated with one of said mounting means for rotating the same; said shifting means comprising a continuous loop partially trained about the cylindrical portion of both of said mounting means Whereby movement of said handle will rotate said one mounting means to move said loop thereby rotating the other of said mounting means.

16. Cable feeding means according to claim 15 wherein said opening comprises a double slot.

17. Cable feeding means according to claim 15 further including means biasing one of said mounting means toward said opening, and means for moving one of said mounting means away from said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,962 12/1959 Jones 214339 X 2,959,077 11/1960 Heym 214339 X 3,206,782 9/ 1965 Larsen.

FOREIGN PATENTS 770,079 3/ 1957 Great Britain.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner.

US. 01. X.R. 

